synopsis: The chrysalids is a science fiction bookset in the future after a nuclear explosion. The community "Waknuk" has its beliefs and religions. One of them includes, if you have any defects to animals, humans, food or anything it will result in death or extermination. If you are caught and you have a defect or you are not quite right eg; an extra toe or a bird with 1 wing, you are put down. But some people are given other defects. Some that aren't obvious from the outside, and the public doesn't know if you are normal or not. "David" has special visions in his mind, and his friend "Sophie" has an extra toe. Their town would see them as blasphemies, if they knew about them. They would be banished from the town and left where "the devil will do his business". The chrysalids explores their adventures and journeys they face along the bookas they try to keep their secrets unknown. About the Author His actual name is John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris. But most people know him as his most famous pen name John Wyndham.He often changed his pen name when writing books because he said it left him with a clean slate because he was an unknown author. He lived till he was 65 years old and he was a science fiction writer. His brother was a writer and he inspired John to write for money. Wyndham was a censor in the 2nd world war and then he he joined the army and became a cipher (decoder). In his early years his parents split up and as a result John and his brother went to multiple boarding schools. His first book under the name John Wyndham was "the day of the triffids" and it was a popular book. From then on he was recognised as an important part of science fiction writing. He got married in 1963 and his marriage continued until he died in 1969. He has a reputation for writing 2 of the best science fiction novels in "the day of the triffids" and "the chrysalids". CHARACTER LIST: David Strorm: (main character) wise, curious, sensible, fends for himself, friendly. Mary Strorm: (Davids sister) smart and sensible. Friendly and nice. Rosalind: (Davids cousin) nice, friendly, Sarah Strorm: (Davids sister) ? Sophie Wender: friendly, playful, brave, curious Mrs Wender: (Sophies mum) worried, nervous, scared, nice, Elias Strorm: (Davids Grandfather) dominant, husky, religious, Elias's wife: shy, young, pretty, sad, unhappy Joseph Strorm: (Davids dad) Uncle Axel: old, wise, hard worker, rough, rugged, serious Angus Morton: ( Davids half uncle) Fiesty, likes to bicker, clashes with Joseph Strorm The old People: ancient, wise mysterious, unknown, magical The people of the fringes: Dirty, mutants, rugged, unclean, bad, wild, crazy
Why did you not decide to tell your father about Sophie's blasphemy?
Because she seemed so innocent, i thought how can a little toe cause the death of such a friendly young soul.
Why are you constantly thinking about running away?
Because i hate it here, i don't believe in my towns beliefs and religions, i want to go somewhere that everyone is accepted.
Why do you want to get rid of your telepathic powers?
Because i just want to be normal, i don't want any extra responsibility, or to be looked at differently.
How come you talk freely to Uncle Axel but no one else?
Because i can trust him, he has some of the same beliefs as me, he is different to all the other men.
If you were in your mothers place and your Aunt Harriet wanted to swap babies for a day or two, would you? why/ why not?
Hhhhm, yes, she is family. She just wants to live with her baby, she is just caring for her baby. I am trying to get rid of a society that wouldn't do that.
Important Phrase The Devil sends Deviations among us to weaken us and tempt us away from Purity. Sometimes he is clever enough to make a nearly-perfect imitation, so we have always to be on the look-out for the mistake he has made, however small, and when we see one it must be reported at once. You'll remember that in future, won't you?' Geographical FactIn the novel the place Sealand ( where telepathy is accepted and looked up on) is actually New Zealand. Actual Title When the book was first published it was called Re-Birth. The Blacklands In the novel the Blacklands were considered a dangerous, unhealthy place where mutations lived and thrived. It is said that the Blacklands were formed by a Nuclear Holocaust . It is also said that the Blacklands is presumed to be the East Coast of the U.S. The bookThe Chrysalids was Whyndham's first novel set in the future, all his other books where set around the mid 20th century.
The Chrysalids
by John Wyndham
synopsis:
The chrysalids is a science fiction book set in the future after a nuclear explosion. The community "Waknuk" has its beliefs and religions. One of them includes, if you have any defects to animals, humans, food or anything it will result in death or extermination. If you are caught and you have a defect or you are not quite right eg; an extra toe or a bird with 1 wing, you are put down. But some people are given other defects. Some that aren't obvious from the outside, and the public doesn't know if you are normal or not. "David" has special visions in his mind, and his friend "Sophie" has an extra toe. Their town would see them as blasphemies, if they knew about them. They would be banished from the town and left where "the devil will do his business". The chrysalids explores their adventures and journeys they face along the book as they try to keep their secrets unknown.
About the Author
His actual name is John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris. But most people know him as his most famous pen name John Wyndham. He often changed his pen name when writing books because he said it left him with a clean slate because he was an unknown author.
He lived till he was 65 years old and he was a science fiction writer. His brother was a writer and he inspired John to write for money. Wyndham was a censor in the 2nd world war and then he he joined the army and became a cipher (decoder). In his early years his parents split up and as a result John and his brother went to multiple boarding schools. His first book under the name John Wyndham was "the day of the triffids" and it was a popular book. From then on he was recognised as an important part of science fiction writing. He got married in 1963 and his marriage continued until he died in 1969. He has a reputation for writing 2 of the best science fiction novels in "the day of the triffids" and "the chrysalids".
CHARACTER LIST:
David Strorm: (main character) wise, curious, sensible, fends for himself, friendly.
Mary Strorm: (Davids sister) smart and sensible. Friendly and nice.
Rosalind: (Davids cousin) nice, friendly,
Sarah Strorm: (Davids sister) ?
Sophie Wender: friendly, playful, brave, curious
Mrs Wender: (Sophies mum) worried, nervous, scared, nice,
Elias Strorm: (Davids Grandfather) dominant, husky, religious,
Elias's wife: shy, young, pretty, sad, unhappy
Joseph Strorm: (Davids dad)
Uncle Axel: old, wise, hard worker, rough, rugged, serious
Angus Morton: ( Davids half uncle) Fiesty, likes to bicker, clashes with Joseph Strorm
The old People: ancient, wise mysterious, unknown, magical
The people of the fringes: Dirty, mutants, rugged, unclean, bad, wild, crazy
5 Question interview with David Strorm
Why did you not decide to tell your father about Sophie's blasphemy?
Because she seemed so innocent, i thought how can a little toe cause the death of such a friendly young soul.
Why are you constantly thinking about running away?
Because i hate it here, i don't believe in my towns beliefs and religions, i want to go somewhere that everyone is accepted.
Why do you want to get rid of your telepathic powers?
Because i just want to be normal, i don't want any extra responsibility, or to be looked at differently.
How come you talk freely to Uncle Axel but no one else?
Because i can trust him, he has some of the same beliefs as me, he is different to all the other men.
If you were in your mothers place and your Aunt Harriet wanted to swap babies for a day or two, would you? why/ why not?
Hhhhm, yes, she is family. She just wants to live with her baby, she is just caring for her baby. I am trying to get rid of a society that wouldn't do that.
Important Phrase
The Devil sends Deviations among us to weaken us and tempt us away from Purity. Sometimes he is clever enough to make a nearly-perfect imitation, so we have always to be on the look-out for the mistake he has made, however small, and when we see one it must be reported at once. You'll remember that in future, won't you?'
Geographical FactIn the novel the place Sealand ( where telepathy is accepted and looked up on) is actually New Zealand.
Actual Title
When the book was first published it was called Re-Birth.
The Blacklands
In the novel the Blacklands were considered a dangerous, unhealthy place where mutations lived and thrived. It is said that the Blacklands were formed by a Nuclear Holocaust . It is also said that the Blacklands is presumed to be the East Coast of the U.S.
The bookThe Chrysalids was Whyndham's first novel set in the future, all his other books where set around the mid 20th century.